How we test

Effectiveness (50 percent) - rated on how well the shower wet and rinsed the hair and body.

Comfort (50 percent) - rated on the feel of the shower on the head and body.

The Aquatica/Eco-Stream and Feltonmix heads could be configured as high-flow by removing the supplied flow restrictor. We assessed these models both with and without the restrictors.

Aquatica Eco Smarte and Aquatica Eco Stream are identical but are marketed under two names and sold by different retailers.

Our trial
Each head was trialled by 8 people. Each trial was conducted in the same shower cubicle using the same mixer-control and slide-rail each time. The shower head and hose were changed every day.

We also measured the mains water pressure and then the water flow for each head.

Note: our trial was conducted in June 2010. Price and availability have been updated, but new models for many of the brands are now available.